Clinical evaluation of PMX-DHP for hypercytokinemia caused by septic multiple organ failure

Endotoxin-adsorbing fibers have been applied to treat septic shock patients. The limitations of endotoxin hemoadsorption therapy (PMX-DHP) and the optimal time to start PMX-DHP were examined in patients with septic multiple organ failure with hypercytokinemia (interleukin-6 = 1000 pg/mL). Subjects were separated into those who survived more than 28 days after the start of PMX-DHP therapy (S group) and those who did not (N-S group). Severity of symptoms and background factors, blood biochemical parameters, hemodynamic parameters, PaO(2)/FiO(2), pathogens, endotoxin, cytokines, and vascular endothelial cell function-related markers were examined before and after PMX-DHP. Number of days from onset of shock (or symptom development) to PMX-DHP initiation was longer in the N-S group than in the S group. These results suggest that PMX-DHP could save more lives in patients with septic multiple organ failure with IL-6 = 1000 pg/mL when applied early after the onset of shock.